Monthly Archives: September 2014
Scotland Referendum 2014
Scotland is a sovereign country. This referendum is not about freeing Scotland, but to break away from the United Kingdom – which incidentally is headed by a Queen, tsk, tsk – [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom ], politically and economically in order to control their own country their way.
All of those entities such as the Commonwealth, United Kingdom, Great Britain, were simply intended to expand the sovereign space of England, a small country on an Island in the Atlantic, in other words to afford them to eventually control the entire World.
Would be nice to see that finally all countries with a different people and different culture become sovereign States.
The comparison between this 2014 Scotland Independence Referendum and the one held in 1980 and second one 1995 for Quebec, Canada, is different in the sense that Quebec has always been a Province within Canada, which in itself is still a British Colony in many respects. But not headed by a King, but a Queen. So, why not call it United Queendom ? Let’s face it, not many people nowadays know which King we are talking about.
Football or Soccer
http://www.answers.com/Q/Why_is_American_football_called_football
once and for all, what came first ? Football League came alive in England in around 1863 or 1888 or thereabouts [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League ]. Whereas it seems like this American Football version came into play and being played later [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_American_football ]. The name soccer however also dates back very early in conjunction with the English names for that game [ http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/06/the-origin-of-the-word-soccer/ ]
To continue – why do teams outside North America (Europe, Central and South America, Africa) playing football (with their feet) also call it FOOTBALL (or futbol) ? [ http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/07/the-us-has-won-football-respect-in-europe-finally-world-cup-belgium/373852/ ]
And the media announcers and all broadcasters during major championships (especially the FIFA world cup) always refer to the games and matches played as ‘football’ ? While that same game is now also played and becoming more popular in North America and referred to as ‘soccer’ ?
How popular is soccer in North America ? the answer is, look at the fans, look how empty the stadiums are, how many empty seats there are, observe the quality and technical finesse of the teams. No comparison with European Football, or Football played in South America with passion, where all seats are occupied and the fans are fanatic. How about that ?
Personally I grew up with football, we all played. We all watched the games. Never even heard of anything like NFL or American Football. Don’t even care about it. It is no game, it is “Mord und Totschlag”. Thanks, but no thanks.
Cycling – the royal way
Another one down. Just yesterday one cyclist got killed while cycling along one of the major highways [ http://www.peninsulanewsreview.com/news/273844471.html ]
Best always, not to ride a bike along that highway – because of the tremendous vehicle noise which is distracting and also the chance to get into a major collision should several vehicles collide on that highway, the major route (from and to the BC Ferry Terminals) on Vancouver Island. Also there are alternate cycling roads parallel to that busy highway, and meant for bicycles. That is neither here nor there.
Coincidentally, just last weekend – while the Royals were visiting Victoria – I myself encountered just such a cyclist being on the wrong side of the road. While riding up to the Greek Fest 2014 [ http://greekfest.ca/ ] with my bicycle on a major shared road where cycling paths are painted in the road itself. Shared roads are always dangerous. I was on the right side (which is not left, like in England). Another cyclist came at me on the wrong side of the road, stopping in front of me, and then started shouting obscenities at me about my driving, while he was obviously wrong. So, my thinking was, either he was here from England also, where they drive on the left side, or he was a mental case. Either way, always be aware and careful and anticipate such incidents.
Johann Sebastian Bach
From one of my French magazines to which I subscribe comes this: “Tout Bach, et plus encore. Qui n’aime pas Jean-Sébastien Bach ?” (observe that also Sebastian – that is his name – has been screwed up and frenchyfied). Wann hört dies ‘Verhohnepiepeln ‘ von Namen endlich auf ? Give me a break. The name of this famous Baroque composer (of the 17th century), among the most popular of the classical composers, is Johann Sebastian Bach. Not Jean (as some French like to call him), not John either, but Johann. Besides, Jean (a French name) would then be equivalent to Hans in German, not Johann (or very old as well = Johannes). Source of this article based on a link to [ http://allofbach.com/nl/ ]. This is a wonderful Dutch website, listing and performing all of the over one thousand music pieces for which Johann Sebastian Bach was most famous, and not making fun of his name by turning it into other languages. Thank you, Netherlands. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Sebastian_Bach ]
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